Egg cooker



Sept. 14, 1937.

R. J. JENNINGS EGG COOKER Filed Jan. 26, 1937 INVENTOR. RJ' Jismvuvqs,I/wEA/rane, Dace/1.950. 1? A/v/v QJEN ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE EGG COOKER Robert J. Jennings,deceased, late of San Francisco, Calif., by Ann G- Jennings,administratrix, San Francisco. Calif.

Application January 26, 1937, Serial No; 122,384

12 Claims. (01. 53-1) This application is a continuation in part ofco-pending application Serial No. 61,109, filed January 27, 1936.

This invention relates to new and useful im- 5 provements in eggcookers: and has for one of its important objects to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a novel construction and arrangementwhereby eggs may be cooked through the medium of steam generated in theT device.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character .described embodying a novel construction, com- I binationand arrangement of parts through the medium of which the eggs will besubjected to the action of steam fora predetermined length of time,depending on how much water to be converted into steam is placed in thedevice.

Still another veryimportant object of the in- 20 vention is to providean egg cooker of the aforementioned character which will keep the eggswarm without further cooking for a considerable l length of time afterthe steaming operation has A been completed. 25 Other objects of theinvention are to .pro-

vide an. egg cooker of the character set. forth which will becomparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient"and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, attractive in 30appearance and which may be manufactured I at Iow'cost. I All of theforegoing and still further objects andadvantages of the inventionwillbecome apparent from a study of the following specification, takenin connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters ofreference designate. corresponding parts throughout the several views,andwhereinz- I g p 1 Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through 140an egg cooker constructed in accordance with the-present invention.Figure 2 .is a view in top plan of the inven tion, the cover beingomitted. Figure 34s a vertical sectional view through a slightlymodified form of egg cooker.

"Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through astill further form ofegg cooker. j-"R'eferring' now to the drawing in detail, it-will :50 beseen that the embodimentof the invention fwhich has been illustrated inFigures 1 and 2 comprises a substantially conical base I of any suitablemetal which is provided, on its 'periphery, with abead 2. Rising fromthe'base l 25. is asubstanti'ally tapered neck 3 having formed thereinan integral well 4 for the reception of water to the desired level, asat 5.

, Removably mounted on the tapered neck '3 of the base I is an annulartray or platform, 6 on which the eggs 1 are mounted. On its outer 5periphery, the annular platform 6 is provided with a bead 8 and spacedinwardly therefrom is an upwardly pressed rib 9. On its inner peripherythe annular. platform 6 is provided with an upturned arcuate flange l0which seatson the 10 tapered neck 3. The eggs I are confined between theflange I0 and the rib 9 on theplatiormli, as illustrated toadvantageinFigure 1 of the drawing.

The reference numeral ll designates. a sub stantially dome-shaped coverwhich is removably mounted on the platform 6 over .the eggs I. The coverll engages the. platforms 6 between the rib 9 and the bead 8, the latterpreventing said cover from slipping on the platform. The .cover II isprovided with a centrally located handlel2. The cover ll, also theplatform 6, are of any suitable metal. I In use, a desired quantity ofwater is placed in the well 74., and, the base 2 is mounted over aflame,; such as from the burner of a gas range. The eggs .1 are thenmounted on the platform 6 and the cover H is placed in position there.-.over. As the water 5 comes to a boil the steam thus generated engulfsand cooks the eggs 1 in a 0 manner which is thought to be obvious. Theeggs are subjected to the action of the steam f until the water 5 boilsaway and it will thus be seen that by varying the quantity of waterplaced in the Well 4 the length of time that the eggs 3 will be cookedmay be controlled as desired.- After the cooking operation hasbeencompleted the eggs will be kept warm for a considerable length of timebeneath the cover H. The substantially conical base I protects theplatform .6 from the action of the flame and directs said ame inwardlyagainst the bottom; and walls of the well 4. V i In the form illustratedin Figure 3, the sides of the conical base I extends substantiallystraight to the upper edges of the sides of .the upwardly openingcentrally 'positionedswell 4', which well is formed integrally with thebase' and is adapted to hold the water 5' therein.

The platformli' (Figure 3) is annular in shape and is formed withanannular, upwardly projecting rib 9' at its peripheral. margin, butspaced slightly inwardly of the peripheral edge ofthe platform, and theportion between the rib and peripheral edge is formed to U -shape incross 21 section as indicated at l3, for receiving the lower edges ofthe bell shaped cover ll. Thus the channel l3 positions, or aligns thecover over the platform and well, and likewise functions to catch anymoisture of condensation that may drain from the inner surface of thecover.

The inner marginal portion of the platform 6 around the central openingtherein is turned downwardly to form a downwardly directed flange M,which flange is adapted to removably fit within the well adjacent theupper edges thereof for positioning and supporting the plat formelevated above the base I.

That portion of platform 6 that extends between the flange l4 and rib 9'is inclined slightly downwardly in the direction toward the rib, thusgiving the platform a dished shape, so that the eggs I supportedthereon-will tend toroll to- .ward and against the rib 9 only, andtherefore will not accidentally roll into the well, although it is to beseen that the well could be covered by a perforated plate, or screen, orinstead of cutting the central: opening in the platform the platformcould be centrally perforated instead. However, by providing the largecentral opening there is an unobstructed escape for the steam from thewell to the space around the eggs.

In the form of device illustrated in Figure 4, I show a horizontalcircular base plate l5 having a downwardly directed flange l6 dependingfrom its-peripheral edges for supporting the plate [5 above the uppersurface X of a stove, which plate is formed with a central, circularopening therein, having a flange l6 extending upwardly from the edgesthereof, the upper edges of the flange being turned radially inwardly asat H.

In this form of device, the egg supporting platform comprises ahorizontal, circular plate l8 formed centrally with a liquid receivingwell 19 integral therewith. The side walls of the well are cylindrical,and of a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindricalflange [6, thus the well is adapted to extend through the centralopening in the base plate l5 with the flange I6 spaced fromthe sides ofthe well, the inwardly turned edges ll of the flange aligning the wellwithin the flange with the flange'supporting the plate 18 at the upperend of'the well.

The plate l8, outwardly of the well, isformed withan annular row ofshallow depressions 20 therein, each adapted to support an egg 2 Itherein on its side against accidental rolling into the well, oroutwardly over the edge of the platform. A cover 22, similar to thecovers in the other forms of the device, is adapted to be removablysupported'on the plate [8 outwardly of the row of depressions 20, and abead 23 may be formed at the peripheral edge of the plate I8 forpositioning the cover against lateral displacement relative 'to theplate. I

It will be seen that in each of the above described several devices,there is a central well for the water, which well is'spaced byasupporting base above the supporting surface of a stove, and the eggsupporting platform is around the well and is insulated from the heat ofthe flame by the air between the supporting base and the egg supportingplatform. Thus the eggs are substantially removed from the directinfluence of heat from the flame, and the steam generated from the waterin the central well is the effective egg cooking medium. I The spacingof the well above the stove functions to remove the bottom of the well asufficient distance from the flameto substantially prevent aoeaois anydamage to the well in case the heat is not turned off after the water inthe well has been converted into steam.

In all of the forms of the device, I may provide a small, conventional,steam whistle, in the cover, such as indicated at 25 in Figures 3 and 4,which whistle allows the escape of a very small amount of steam underpressure and operates the whistle to give anaudible signal, so that whenthe water in the well has all been converted into steam, the signal willcease to operate and the operator will be informed that the eggs arecooked and can turn off the heat.

The well is adapted to contain at least three teaspoonfuls of "water,and the platform is of a size to support about six eggs. When it isdesired to cook the eggs hard, three teaspoonfuls of water are placed inthe well and with a medium heat this water will be all converted intosteam in about eight minutes, starting with cold water, and the eggswill then be cooked hard.

For medium soft cooked eggs, two teaspoonfuls of water are used, and forsofteggs, only one teaspoonful is used. The steam commences to generatepractically as soon as the heat is applied, and about five minutes latertwo teaspoonfuls of water will be fully converted into steam and eggsare cooked medium soft, or for one teaspoonful of water only about threeminutes is required. In each case the whistle clearly indicates,byceasing to signal, that the water is all converted into steam and thatthe eggs are cooked to the desired hardness.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An egg cooker comprising a substantially frusto-conical base adaptedto be mounted over a flame, a well within its upper edge portion for thereception of water, a platform, for supporting eggs and having a centralopening for seating the platform upon the walls of said base adjacentits upper edge, and a cover for enclosing the eggs mounted on theplatform.

2. An ieggcooker comprising a substantially frusto-conical baseincluding a well for the reception of water, in the upper portion of thebase, a substantially annular ring like platform removably mounted onthe base adjacent its upper edge and. adapted to support eggs, and acover removably mounted on the platform for enclosing the eggs, saidplatform including a. bead on its outer periphery within which the coveris confined, a raised rib inwardly of said bead, and an upstandingflange on its inner periphery adapted to seat on the base, the eggsbeing confined between said rib'and flange.

3. An egg cooker comprising a water receptacle, a substantially annularring like platform removably mounted on said water receptacle andencircling the same, said platform being adapted to support eggs andincluding spaced concentric raised portions between which the eggs areconfined, and a cover removably mounted on the platform for enclosingthe eggs.

4. An egg cooker comprising a receptacle for water, adapted to bepositioned over a sourceof heat, a substantially horizontal platformpositioned adjacent the upper end of the receptacle extendingtherearound and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom a distance tosupport a plurality of eggs outwardly of the receptacle, a coverextending over the platform removably supported thereon adjacent theouter edges thereof for enclosing the eggs, said receptacle and platformbeing formed with an opening for admitting steam generated from water inthe receptacle to below the cover and above the platform for surroundingthe eggs.

5. In a construction as defined in claim 4, said platform beingimperforate over that portion projecting outwardly of the receptacle,and the platform connecting with the receptacle against escape of steamat its connection therewith.

6. In a construction as defined in claim 4, said platform being exposedon its under side for free circulation of outside air to the lower sideof the platform.

'7. An egg cooker comprising a water receptacle provided with a basearranged and adapted to support the receptacle on the upper surface of astove elevated above said surface, the upper end of said receptaclebeing formed with an opening to permit steam from the water to escapetherefrom, a platform extending laterally around the receptacle adjacentthe upper end thereof a distance to support an annular row of eggsthereon a generally bell-shaped cover extending over the platform andsupported thereon adjacent the outer edges of the platform for enclosinga row of eggs supported on the platform.

8. An egg cooker comprising a receptacle for water having generallycylindrical side walls and 4 formed with an opening at its upper end,means nular, horizontal platform connecting with said receptacle at itsinner edges.

10. In a construction as defined in claim 6, said first mentioned meanscomprising an annular fiat, generally horizontally disposed platformconnecting with said receptacle at its inner edges and slightly disheddownwardly from said inner edges whereby eggs therein will tend to rolltoward the outer edges of the platform, and said last mentioned meanscomprising an annular upstanding rib adjacent the outer edges of theplatform.

11. In a construction as defined in claim 6, said first mentioned meanscomprising an annular, horizontal platform formed integral with andextending laterally from the upper end of the receptacle.

12. An egg cooker comprising a hollow base open at its lower end andhaving lateral side walls extending upwardly therefrom, a receptacle forwater having side walls, a bottom and. formed with an opening at itsupper end, means supporting said receptacle within said base in aposition with the side walls of the receptacle spaced from the sidewalls of the base, a horizontally disposed platform supported on saidbase spaced above the lower end thereof and extending laterallyoutwardly relative to the side walls of the receptacle and side walls ofthe base, said platform being adapted to support a plurality of eggsthereon, and, a cover removably supported on said platform for enclosingeggs supported thereon.

ANN G. JENNINGS, Administratrizr ofihe Estate of Robert J. Jennz'ngs,Deceased.

